SOMERSET — The citizen reuse opinion survey for Somerset’s power plants was released Wednesday.

Several environmental groups, which have long fought for cleaner energy choices, went to 406 Somerset homes last week to solicit favored options in the wake of evaporating revenues and futures from the town’s two coal-fired power plants.

“With Montaup closed and Brayton Point closing in 2017, it’s an all-hands-on-deck situation for Somerset’s economy. But that doesn’t mean that anything goes,” said Sylvia Broude, Toxics Action Center executive director, opening a press conference next to Waterfront Park on the Taunton River.

Broude and a large group of advocates and volunteers came armed with color-coded survey results they compiled after polling neighborhoods and gathering spots “all across Somerset.”

A majority, 224 of the 406 persons, have lived in town at least 20 years. Just over 100 people have lived in town for a decade or less.

The two key questions were what Somerset residents would most and least want to see for the privately owned coal plant sites, and 10 options were offered.

The highest priorities were “renewable energy related” (42 percent) and “tourism related” (20 percent), while least was “heavy industry,” which was identified in a separate question as by far the least favored option (28 percent) for reuse of the power plant sites.

“These survey results should be a call to action for state leaders and the town of Somerset to support a shift away from coal and heavy, polluting industry toward clean energy, clean development and a healthier, thriving economy in town,” said Broude, who organized a similar but less detailed survey for Somerset a year ago.

Pauline Rodrigues of Somerset’s Coalition for Clean Air and Citizen Transition Committee acknowledged owners of both properties have shared little information about their plans. “We have nothing to go on,” she said of the new Montaup owner.

She said citizen input and inclusion in the process could have an impact because under these circumstances she hopes “they would want all the help that they can get.”

Several organizers expanded on the priority to replace coal with green energy and commercial options.

James Burke, chairman of the Somerset Economic Development Committee, agreed with the premise but not the choices the surveyors offered, or the conclusions.

Burke said he asked fellow SEDC members why they moved to Somerset. The answer was good schools, services and neighborhoods and reasonable taxes, he said.

“Unless options which produce the appropriate tax revenue from these valuable deep-water, port-designated industrial sites are realized, major tax increases and significant loss of services will result,” Burke said.

He said the goal of their committee is to help the property owners find “the highest and best uses” of the large waterfront sites where the power plants had produced more than $10 million a year in taxes.

Citing the 10 choices the survey gave, Burke said, “Citizens who would support retrofitting old plants to meet current environmental regulations, such as natural gas, aren’t given a chance to express their opinion.”

Another SEDC member, Ronald Deston, said the viability of natural gas is supported by a news account after an agreement for the new Salem power plant was reached. A news account cited a Conservation Law Foundation lawyer saying this power generation could reduce greenhouse gases if appropriately set up.

The released survey of 10 questions also emphasized the desire for citizen participation in reuse planning. It showed 83 percent agreed, 3 percent disagreed and 12 percent don’t feel strongly.

Selectman David Berube, who attended but did not participate directly, said, “I think that it’s all good what they stand for. I believe in clean energy.”

He added, “The first thing is to address the financial situation of the town.”

Richard Munger of the Citizens Transition Committee, said citizens surveyed brought up three questions: What will happen when Brayton Point closes? What will happen to their taxes? What are town officials doing to address it?

The state has funded “at least $100,000” through the Clean Energy Center to study Somerset’s transition issues. The CEC is reviewing two bid proposals in conjunction with town officials.